The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-01
a PIRATE" LOVER.
dc Thought Ailsa "Weel Worth
a the Trouble"


Pretty Ailsa Macfarlane, sitting all
In white upon the broad gray stone
sips of II + home. with the afternoon
sunlight falling upon the glimmering
gold of her hair. was lovely picture.
and one which it seemed pity should
remain unseen. But the little cottage.
In Itself picturesque and attractive to
an unusual degree. was situated sew
eral miles from Victoria, fronting upon
the broad expanse of Puget Sound, ant!
the public roadway ran by some. dis
lance in the rear of the house. A view
OF fhe front of the cottage, therefore.
was never obtained by casual passers-by
except such as travelled by water and
near the shore, and these were not
many.
1t was toward the sound that Ailsa
was gazing now. and with SO earnest
an attention that she seemed to give no
heed TO what might be passing nearer
hand. Yet the broad sweep of water
for once presented such an appearance
of monotony, through the almost total
absence of the myriad of sailing craft
which usually dot its surface that it
seemed difficult to imagine what could
attract SO intense gaze. Far 10 the
south the sunlight lid glitter with al
most dazzling brightness upon the
<rpn,r-uh ifn c,py,S nf /, c,l;t,,,- Graf.
but at this, which was SO distant that
1T was impossible to make out whether
its rig was that of a schooner, sloop or
yawl, it scarcely seemed like any one
wOnld be gazing with such earnest
interest.
Out through the porch came at last
:, tall, gray-haired man of middle age,
in whom Ailsa recognized her uncle
and guardian, Captain Duncan Macfar-
Pane, of Her Maiesty's Colonial Reve-
nue. Service. In his hand he carried a
marine telescope of portentous size and
appearance. and his first words to his
niece We're:
-'Ailsa, lass, have just been up in
1he tower" referring TO gaunt.
pigeon coop locking arrangement
which projected slightly above the
rcOf Of the cottage. watching that sail
We can see far down there 10 the south.
Bat either my eyes are getting bad in
decd or ] can't focus the glass right.
for L can't make her out at ali. But
you. lass, Your eyes are Young and
stronghold YOU and tell me what you
SEE
Ike handed tie glass 10 Ailsa, who
took ii with something which seemed
like suppressed cagernc 5. With her
t'iere seemed 10 difficulty about adjust
Jag the fccuS and in Z moment she had
the glass 20 her eye and fixed upon the
Ahite-sailed stranger.
''Ah. she exclaimed. after Il mo-
lnents intent scrutiny. but it was diff
cult to define what emotion the eiacu-
1a.ion expressed.
We'll weii.' exclaimed her uncle
when excited the Scotch always came
strongly TO the surface-.'spcak, lass.
.f.ia; is ii We see?"
Its a sloop, uncle replied the girl
:'t last; - large sloop. with tall top
sail and a very long bowsprit.'
''.And the eusign?" queried Captain
Macfarlane eagerly. "Can We see that.
or does she carry any?"
lit is very small" answered Ailsa.
sill with her eye to the glass; Il can
not make it oct exactly. but think"
she continued. musingly and in low
tone, the words seeming TO be rather
addressed TO herself than her listener.
81 :hink-oh. yes. it must be an Amer
lean flag
If old Captain Macfarlane had not
been SO intent upon his own ideas he
might have noticed that there was a
tore of something like joyous excite
n,ent in her voice rs she spoke the last
words. But he only exclaimed:
IAN American flag! That settles it:
j. must be the rascal. But now that
we've got an eye on him. let him be
careful"
Now for the first time something like
alarm came into Ailsa's sweet face, and
she asked. hastily:
Why, uncle. what is it you mean?'
Hist, lass. " replied her uncle. low
cring his voice and glancing mysteri-
ous.y around. IF that craft comes
near the shore tonight we'll put our
hands upon the worst smuggler that
has vexed the sound for many a year.
But say nothing to any one at all, else
he viii somehow get warning. as he has
30 many times before. and then it will
be all up with us again.
Now a new expression came into
Ailsa's bright blue eyes, something
which seemed akin to indignation.
How can you be Sc unjust, uncle?'
She exclaimed. '.How do you know
that this is true?''
''Hoot toot, lassie," spoke the old
Scotchman. angrily. ANY one would
think &c held the rascals among your
friends, sin We STAN up for him so
strongly. But how he be ither than
the guilty partye Does not the SNUG
Elin. go on between the coasts con-